Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes


TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#7624
Red spider to ID please - Dysdera crocata

Red spider to ID please - Dysdera crocata
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
September 3, 2004
Found this one under a plant pot. Any help in ID'ing it would be appreciated. Thanks

Dysdera crocata
No common name for this spider. It is a specialized predator on sowbugs. Looks wicked, but is harmless to humans:-)

 
Hmm
Woodlouse Hunter spider... We have a ton of these in Colorado, mostly found in humid, cool, dark areas like under rocks, dead wood, logs, bricks laying around on the ground... etc. I wouldn't say it's harmless to humans. I've been poking around with these spiders since I was child and from what I've gathered, they are pretty irritable and, though it wont kill a person, the bite is extremely painful... They do hunt Sow bugs, but it's main dish are Woodlouse bugs (hence the name) which are also known as rollie Pollies hence the spider's massive jaws.

 
Red spider
Thanks Eric. I seem to have quite a few spiders around but this one is welcome as sow bugs are a bit of a nuisance

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.